[NEohioPAL] CSU partners with Cleveland Asian Festival in celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month of May

[Johnny Wu]

CSU partners with Cleveland Asian Festival

For Immediate Release

April 25, 2019

Cleveland, OH – The Cleveland Asian Festival (CAF) will be celebrating 
its 10-year anniversary on May 18 and 19, 2019.  The organizers of CAF 
chose May to hold the annual event because it is National Asian Pacific 
Islander American Heritage Month.

In recognition of this 10 year anniversary, the Levin College at 
Cleveland State University has partnered with the Cleveland Asian 
Festival and Asian Pacific American Advocates, OCA Greater Cleveland 
(OCA) to present AsiaTown and the Asian American Experience.

Ohio is home to over 238,000 Asian-Americans with almost 67,000 living 
in the Cleveland Metropolitan area and over 39,000 in Cuyahoga County. 
When the first Chinese arrived in Cleveland in 1870, Chinatown formed, 
relocated twice, and eventually evolved to the present day AsiaTown. For 
many years, AsiaTown remained a hidden gem that unveiled itself more 
widely in recent years due in large part to the popularity of the 
Cleveland Asian Festival and the growing Asian Pacific American (APA) 
community.

Starting with a full month Gallery Exhibit (May 1-31), “Faces of 
Chinatown”, an extensive photography exhibit capturing the evolution of 
the historic neighborhood, Cleveland’s Chinatown. The exhibit combines 
the works of award-winning artists including Steve Cagan, Luanne 
Bole-Becker and Bob Becker, and Katie (Major) Melnick.  The gallery will 
be located at the Thomas F. Campbell exhibition Gallery located in the 
Roberta Steinbacher Atrium

The AsiaTown & the Asian American Experience forum will take place on 
Thursday, May 16, 2019 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.in the Roberta Steinbacher 
Atrium of the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State 
University 1717 Euclid Avenue.

Regardless of where Asian Pacific Americans live, work, or play they 
have a connection with Cleveland's AsiaTown. The diverse group of 
panelists will talk about their own personal experiences, perspectives 
on AsiaTown, and the future of the APA community in Cleveland.  
Panelists include 2 of the 3 CAF founders: Johnny Wu and Lisa Wong as 
well as Grammy winner Angelin Chang, news anchor Chris Tanaka, Chinese 
newspaper publisher Anne Pu and Indian Community Civic leader Asim 
Datta. More details and a link to registration can be found at 
https://www.csuohio.edu/urban/forum/levin-college-forum-051619-asiatown-and-the-asian-american-experience

In conjunction with the Forum, The Levin College will offer a Brown Bag 
Film Series throughout the month of May (1, 8, 22 from 12pm - 1pm), 
facilitated by Kyle Znamenak, Research and Inclusion Specialist, 
Cleveland State University. The film series is co-sponsored by the Levin 
College Dean's Diversity Council. More information at 
https://www.csuohio.edu/urban/events/asiatown-and-asian-american-experience-brown-bag-film-series



About the 2019 Cleveland Asian Festival

The Cleveland Asian Festival is an annual celebration of Asian Pacific 
American Heritage month in May in Cleveland’s AsiaTown neighborhood. The 
Cleveland Asian Festival is a landmark undertaking to unite the 
community through collaboration and recognition of its culture, 
diversity, and people.

The 2019 Cleveland Asian Festival will be held May 18 and 19, 2019 from 
11am to 7pm on Payne Ave. between E. 30th St & E. 27th S.  Admission and 
parking are free.
http://clevelandasianfestival.org

Major sponsors include: Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, Cleveland Public 
Power, City Council Ward 7, Metroparks Zoo, KeyBank, Lubrizol, Ohio Arts 
Council, Cuyahoga Community College, ImageLab Media, ThirdFederal, PNC, 
City of Cleveland Water Department



Contact

Johnny Wu, johnny at mdifilm.com
1419 East 40th Street Cleveland, OH 44103
Office: 216.539.4634
www.ClevelandAsianFestival.org
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Johnny Wu
O: 216.539.4634
Produce - Create - Deliver
www.mdifilm.com
inducted into The International Indie Filmmakers Hall of Fame for
Outstanding Achievements in Film Editing

Co-Founder
Cleveland Asian Festival
May 18-19, 2019
www.ClevelandAsianFestival.org

Producer (2015-2019)
73rd Cleveland Cultural Gardens’ One World Day
August 25, 2019, 11am - 6pm
www.clevelandculturalgardens.org

VP of Communications
OCA-Cleveland Chapter
“Embracing the Hopes and Aspirations of Asian Pacific Americans”
OCA Image TV- reaching over 200 million viewers each month
OCA AsiaTown Voice Radio – Sundays 7pm at 88.7FM or listen online at
www.ocagc.org/imagetv
OCA Interactive Kiosk - Interactive Tablet at several AsiaTown locations 
to
promote AsiaTown.
www.ocagc.org

Administrator
Cleveland IndieClub
www.FaceBook.com/groups/ClevelandIndieclub

WKYC TV3 Community Advisory Board
City of Cleveland Community Affairs Board
St. Clair Superior Development Board Member
2013 Minority Business Entrepreneurs Award Recipient
Inducted into International Karate and Kickboxing Hall of Fame
Inducted into World Head of Family Sokeship Council
2014 Legendary Master of the World Head of Family Sokeship Council